Prolonged electricity loadshedding, overbilling: Shutter-down, wheel-jam strike paralyses routine life in Swabi

SWABI: On the call of Swabi Action Committee (SAC), a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed here on Sunday across the district against the failure of the federal government to end power outages and provide relief to the consumers.

In the history of the district, it was the first ever time that the markets in the whole district wore a deserted look and all political and religious parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, were on the same page.

The entry and outgoing transport points were perfectly monitored and kept close. The SAC members were monitoring the situation for the whole day.All SAC members and supporters, leaders and workers of political parties who were monitoring key points in the cities and markets were advised that they should remain peaceful under all circumstances and none of them were allowed to become violent while handling people, transporters, sick people and their family members.

It was announced that Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) will be allowed to carry out loadshedding. It was also announced that the consumers would go to the nearby Pesco offices and hold a sit-in there and the officials would be politely told to leave the office and not to perform duty.

Nadeem Shah Bacha, president of the Swabi Action Committee said that their struggle would continue till their demands were met by the federal government.He said the Swabi district produced electricity, which was supplied to the entire country but its residents were braving prolonged loadshedding. He said the elite class would no longer be allowed to suck our blood. “We are determined to achieve our objectives,” he declared.

Salim Khan advocate, founder of SAC, said that Under the next plan they would hold a meeting with the deputy commissioner Swabi and would block the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway and would finally move to occupy the powerhouse of the Tarbela Dam.On the call of the Swabi Action Committee, a protest was staged at Razaar Tehsil of the district where protestors arranged a camp at Ismaila town . They blocked Shewa Adda and Kalu Khan roads for traffic.

The members of Swabi Action Committee criticized the Wapda authorities for unscheduled loadshedding and overbilling.Saleem Khan Advocate, former provincial general secretary of Awami National Party, and spokesman for (SAC) said that the residents of Swabi should be provided electricity at Rs3 per unit. He said that KP was producing cheap hydel electricity so there was no justification for collecting various surcharges from the power consumers of the province.

The protestors in Chota Lahor Tehsil blocked the Jehangira-Swabi road at Mankey and Tordher township and staged a protest demonstration. They also demanded an end to unannounced loadshedding and overbilling.

Protests were also staged in other places in the district including, Gohati Pul, Baja Bamkhel, Marghuz, Zaida, Kunda Mor, Lahor Shakh, Jehangira bridge, Karkhano Chowk, Topi,Gandaf industrial estate and Yar Hussain.